What could be better than Italian tiramisu? A freshly made cheesecake in the style of Rossini restaurant! A sweet dessert, well-known, loved, and recommended all over the world that you can enjoy with all your senses at any time of the year. A pleasure fit for the gods with interesting curiosities and stories behind it that we will reveal to you in this article dedicated to cheesecake and its fascinating history. If you’re a dessert lover or you’ve made it here, this article is entirely dedicated to you. We hope you enjoy it!
The origins of cheesecake
Although many people think cheesecake is of American origin, the truth is that the recipe has been known for centuries. In classical Greece, there was a similar dish prepared from a mixture of flour, crushed cheese, and honey, cooked slowly. Due to its high caloric content, it was a common food used by Greek athletes during training or competitions as a dietary supplement.
Thanks to trade and the Olympic Games, the dish became popular worldwide, especially in the Roman Empire, where they created their own recipe known as “placenta.” Due to the absence of leavening agents, it often didn’t resemble a dessert, as the creaminess was hardly noticeable. It wasn’t until centuries later that new ingredients were added and the process of pastry-making evolved.
The rise of cheesecake around the world
Throughout the 16th century, various European chefs began adapting their recipes thanks to the incorporation of new cooking techniques. American immigrants were influenced by this dessert and didn’t hesitate to bring it to their new lands. Among all the chefs, German Arnold Reuben stands out for creating the contemporary recipe for New York cheesecake.
A delicious cheesecake that gradually spread and gained more recognition both within and outside America due to its unique recipe. So much so that July 30th became National Cheesecake Day, a date to celebrate the creation of this delicious dessert that still captivates sweet tooths today.
An English restaurant just for cheesecake
Can you imagine a restaurant where you can only find cheesecake? Although you might not know, it’s not just a single restaurant. There is a chain known as “The Cheesecake Factory,” which currently offers only cheesecakes and their countless varieties to its diners.
Each of the chain’s 135 restaurants offers full service and the opportunity to explore different presentations of cheesecake with other ingredients like tiramisu, lemon, dulce de leche, Oreo, chocolate, red velvet, banana…
If you decide to try it for yourself, you can find restaurants from the chain around the world, many of which are easy to identify due to the exclusivity of their menu, although some also offer home delivery services.
Cheesecakes are not always sweet
It might be hard to believe, but there are indeed cheesecakes that are not sweet. Some recipes use savory ingredients or salt to accompany meals or salads, similar to a pancake.
According to some culinary experts, it’s not surprising that each country incorporates its own ingredients given the versatility of this European dessert and its many customization options, which now include over 100 combinations. Would you dare to try something different?
The world’s largest cheesecake
According to the Guinness World Records, the largest cheesecake in the world was prepared by Charles Chamouton and his 50 chefs on January 25, 2009, in Mexico City. The gigantic cheesecake weighed nearly two tons, with a diameter exceeding two meters and a height of about 55 centimeters. A true delight that some diners were able to enjoy while helping achieve this impressive record.
And that concludes our article dedicated to cheesecake and its curiosities. A captivating European dessert that managed to conquer the world on its own… and now, before we say goodbye, we encourage you to explore our selection of Italian desserts.